Spike.



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G. & M. ROZNOWSKI.

SPIKE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 22.1915.

1, 175,824. Patented Mar. 14, 1916.

THE COLUMBIA PLMjOnlzAm-i $0.. wunmafim. u. c.

@MTED STAEEfi PATENT @EFEQE GEORGE BOZNOWSKI AND MICHAEL ROZNOWSKI, OF DUQUOIN, ILLINOIS.

SPIKE.

Application filed June 22, 1915.

T0 alt whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, Gnonon RozNowsKI and MICHAEL RozNowsKi, citizens of the United States, residing at Duquoin, in the county of Perry and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Spikes, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in the construction of spikes and the like, and the object of the invention is to provide a securing device of this character with means attached thereto which will prevent the same from working loose when driven into a tie or other body.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide a spike or other securing element with a longitudinally movable member having spurs or entering prongs associated therewith which are normally retained within the area of the body of the said securing member, to provide the slidable member with a head which when contacted by the surface of the material into which the securing element is driven will move the slidable element to force its spurs or entering prongs beyond the said securing element, and so provide locking means for effectively sus" taining the said securing element in the material into which it is driven.

A further object of the invention is to provide a locking means for a spike or other securing element which shall embody the desirable features of cheapness in manufacture, simplicity in construction, and accuracy and efficiency in operation.

With the above and other objects in view, the improvement resides in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts set forth in the following specification and falling within the scope of the appended claim.

In the drawing: Figure l is a perspective view of a spike constructed in accordance with the present invention, Fig. 2 is an elevation of a sliding element moved to a position to project the locking spurs beyond the sides of the spike, and Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view approximately on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

While in the accompanying drawings we have illustrated our improvement in connection with an ordinary railway spike, it is to be understood that the same is not to be thus limited in its useful capacity, as the improvement may be arranged upon other Specification of Letters Patent.

Serial No. 35,618.

securing elements with equal efficiency if desired.

In the drawing, the numeral 1 designates a spike of the ordinary construction includ ing a substantially rectangular shank 2 having its lower edges inclined or beveled toward each other to provide an entering point and its opposite end formed with a head 3 which extends laterally over what we will term the front and if desired a slight distance over the rear face of the spike. The portion of the spike which we will refer to as the front face thereof, and which is designated by the numeral 4:, is formed, below the head 3, with a transverse cut-away portion or depression 5 and the said face adjacent the entering end of the shank is provided with a further transverse depression, the upper wall or the wall opposite the shoulder provided by the cut-away portion 5 being beveled or inclined from the side of the spike toward the center thereof, as indicated by the numeral 6, and the lower portion of said depression terminates in a laterally straight wall 7 from which diverge outwardly the side walls 8, the side walls entering the sides of the spike and spaced away from the walls 6, so that a portion of the depression is opened. The portion of the spike between the depressions is centrally formed with a longitudinal passage 9 within which is arranged a bar 10, the said bar having what may be termed its upper or outer end provided with a laterally extending head 11 which is disposed within the cutaway portion 5 and which normally contacts with the lower wall or shoulder 12 provided by the said cut-away portion. lhe

head 11 is preferably of a length substantially equaling the laterally extending head 3 of the spike proper. The opposite end of the spike enters the lower recess and has pivot-ally secured thereon, as at 13, oppositely disposed. tooth or prong members 1414:, and the prong members, beyond their body, being beveled or inclined in opposite directions, forming sharp entering points 15 and the prongs are of a size to be normally retained within the lower depression or within the cross sectional area of the shank so that the same will not project when the spike is being driven home. When the spike is driven into a suitable tie or the like and the head 11 of the slidable bar 10 is contacted by the flange of the rail, the head 11 will be forced into contact with the head of the spike, drawing the bar 10 upwardly, causing the angular edges of the prongs to contact with the oppositely disposed angular wall 6, forcing the pointed ends of the prongs to the opposite sides of the shank of the spike and, of course, into the timber, thereby effectively locking the spike within the timber.

To remove the spike a pinch bar or similar instrument may be forced between the head of the spike and the head of the operating bar. The pinch bar, oi course, serves as a lever and is fulcrumed upon the tie, and anoperation 01" the same will relieve the prongs from pressure in an outward direction by the operating bar of the spike and thus permit of the removal of the spike.

From the above description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, the simplicity of the device, as well as the advantages thereof will, it is thought, be perfectly apparent to those skilled in the art to which such invention. appertains without further detailed description.

Having thus described the invention, what we claim is:

In combination, a spike including a laterally extending head, the shank of the spike below the head being formed with a transverse cut-away portion, the said face of the shank away from its entering point being provided with a depression which includes upper angular walls, a lower straight wall, angular side walls which are arranged away from the upper angular walls providing a passage between the said angular walls, prong members arranged between the side walls and the lower wall of said depression, the spike between the cut-away portion and depression being formed with a longitudinal channel, a movable member arranged within the channel and pivotally connected to the entering prongs, and the free end of the movable member having a lateral head which is received within the upper cut-away portion of the shank which normally rests upon the shoulder provided thereby to sustain the prongs within the spike.

In testimony whereof we afiix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE ROZNOVVSKI. MICHAEL ROZNOXVSKI. lVitnesses FRANK D. LONG, CHARLES GREEN.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

, Washington, I). C. i 

